Goalkeeper Benitez set for Argentina debut against Costa Rica

LOS ANGELES - PSV Eindhoven goalkeeper Walter Benitez could be handed his Argentina debut in the Albiceleste's friendly against Costa Rica on Tuesday as manager Lionel Scaloni shuffles his pack ahead of the Copa America.

31-year-old Benitez, who represented the reigning world champions at youth level, has been in outstanding form since joining the Dutch club from Nice in 2022.

Scaloni is also expected to give a first international start to Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho, whose previous four caps all came as a substitute.

"We are going to make five or six changes," Scaloni told a news conference on Monday. "I would like to give Walter Benitez a chance and it's possible that Garnacho will be among the starters."

Scaloni played down fears that Angel Di Maria might miss the match after his family received death threats in Argentina.

"He is okay and will start," Scaloni said. "He knows that he has our full support for whatever he needs. The important thing is that he plays, that will relax him a little."

Tuesday's match at the Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles comes four days after Argentina cruised to a 3-0 friendly win over El Salvador in Philadelphia.

Costa Rica, meanwhile, clinched a 3-1 victory over Honduras in Dallas on Saturday, a result that earned the Central American team a Copa America place.

"Costa Rica will be a tough opponent. They have a lot of World Cup history and their spirits will be renewed after qualifying for the Copa America," Scaloni said.

"Football never allows you to relax and we are going to give our all, like what we do against all of our opponents."

The Copa America will be played in the United States from June 20 to July 14. Argentina will open the tournament against Canada before also meeting Chile and Peru in the group stage.

Costa Rica will begin their campaign against Brazil before facing Colombia and Paraguay in the tournament's first phase.